Hi:

We will be visiting California in mid April for nine days, starting in San Francisco and flying out of San Diego. We are interested in visiting several of the missions. What are your favorites? Also interested in gardens and beautiful photo op's.

Thanks!

Driving south from SF, the coastal highway along Big Sur is one big photo op.

I have visited all 21 California Missions. Carmel and San Juan Bautista stand out for their beauty and setting. San Juan Capistrano is, I think, the most beautiful.

Hi:

We have visited the Bay Area several times, going as far south as Big Sur. We enjoyed both Carmel Mission and Mission Delores, so we are excited to see them again as well as other missions. We also plan on visiting Fioli and the Hearst Castle.

The rhododendron gardens area of Golden Gate park in SF might be nice at that time of year. Filoli house and gardens, about 20 miles south would be another nice spot.

In southern CA, I think the Santa Barbara botanical gardens are nice, though it has been quite a while since we've been there. The gardens and grounds at the Getty museum in LA are very nice, even aside from the museum itself. The gardens at the Huntington Library (Pasadena?) are also excellent.

One of my favorite missions is San Antonio de Padua. It isn't a fancy mission, but it is out in the middle of nowhere (actually on the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation), and you can really get a feel of what it must have been like back in the days of the padres. I also love Mission San Juan Bautista. Actually, I love most of the missions...

I second curmudeon's vote for the Getty Museum. Both the museum and the grounds are top notch.

I second the Huntington Library. The gardens are lovely.

http://www.huntington.org/

Mission San Juan Bautista is a wonderful mission to visit. You can actually see the earthquake fault running through the grounds.

We also enjoy Mission Nuestra Senora de Soledad. It is small and off the highway far enough to get the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. The gardens are small but beautiful. I haven't been to Padua, but that one looks interesting.

Consider the Getty Villa on Highway 1 in Malibu. Great architecture, gardens, ocean views and unique phot ops. Another LA site to consider is Griffith Observatory - outstanding vistas.

I second the suggestion of the Getty Villa - we were just there and it is in a beautiful setting with beautiful gardens.

We too have seen many of the CA missions and they each have their own beauty and character.

The best for gardens might be San Juan Capistrano. Lovely little benches scattered throughout, also.

Also thought there was a 'sweetness' about San Juan Bautista and loved strolling the charming main street of town. Some fun shoppes and a couple delicious bakeries.

But my favorite mission is santa barbara. So pretty with some massive, beautiful cacti.

Carmel, San Juan Batista, La Purisma near Lompoc, and San Juan Capistrano are my favorites.

Lee Ann

A bit inland from your route but Descanso gardens in La Cañada are lovely, and should be wonderful in April. www.descansogardens.org

Thanks for all the suggestions! Looking forward to our trip!

Hi Katie,

You have great answers to your question about the missions. We did all of them three years ago and absolutely loved that trip. Several of them are close enough together to do more than one in a day without racing. I just marked a map with a highlighter and could easily see their locations, even around busy areas. The mission gift shops and museums are enjoyable as well. We especially enjoy the religious art in many of them. Several of the missions have interesting and well-marked gardens.

A real highlight for us was attending the festival at San Juan Capistrano on St. Joseph's day in mid-March. That is also the day the swallows "return". I know the date won't work for you, but maybe others would enjoy attending.

I can't think of the web site that I wanted to recommend, but just enter California missions, and you will find lots of pictures and info on all of them.

Have fun.

Thanks!

nevermind,

I was surprised someone mentioned San Antonio de Padua!


We used to vacation at Hunter Ligget when we were kids (we stayed at the military lodge) and I agree San Antonio is unique because (like you said) it is like being there when the original padres were building it!

I also like the mission here in San Diego which I think was the first one built?

Hi:

I have a couple of questions:

Curmudgeon: Thanks for the suggestions. Rhododendrons are one of my favorite flowers. Where is the rhododendron garden in Golden Gate Park? Is it the area next to the Conservatory of Flowers? I remember seeing rhododendrons there. I can’t find it on any maps, but then I can’t find the Rose Garden either. The last time we visited the Rose Garden we kept walking and driving until we found it.

Are the Getty museum and the Getty Villa the same place?

We are making reservations for the San Francisco and San Diego portions of the trip. Do we need reservations if we want to stay near Monterey, Cambria or Santa Barbara? I would rather not be tied down to a certain location since we do not know how long we can drive in one day and where we will want to stop and send some time. Also, suggestions for lodging are welcome for the central coast area. 2 adults, no kids, about $100 per night.

Thanks!

There are apparently two Getty Museums ... one at the Getty Center in LA and one at the Getty Villa in Malibu. I think what is typically thought of as the Getty Museum is the one at the Getty Center. Here is a link with info:

http://www.getty.edu/visit/

One thing that I really like about the mission at San Juan Bautista is that the rest of the original town square has been restored/reconstructed, so in addition to the mission, you get to see a fair bit of the old town as well.

On the subject of hotel reservations, I would make them. I know the flexibility of going without is nice, but even in April, places can fill up.

Our mission in Carmel is lovely. You can see and smell the ocean from it, besides seeing where the father of the missions, Junipero Serra, is buried.